Your Heart Surgery Journey: Before, During, and After

Mental Prep

Wrapping your mind around this is a major hurdle. Open heart surgery is a big deal and will change your life for the foreseeable future.

Having a few tools and strategies to prepare mentally will carry you far. 

Disruptive

This surgery will change the mechanics of how you do everything for the next several months. 

Take advantage of any time before surgery to prepare the body for surgery. 

This video offers thoughts on how to prepare the body for the invasive nature of major chest surgery. 

Be sure to watch the extra videos in the last section of this course for a few simple exercises and stretches. 

Stress is Inescapable but there are effective ways to manage it.

Individual Variation Required

Having a source to draw from will get you through the darkest of hours. Your choice, but please stick with it.

I present no dogma here, but rather offer thoughts and experience to support the spiritual side of dealing with major health issues and recovery.

You Are Not Alone

Although it can feel lonely, you are surrounded by people who love and care about you. Please realize that this is very stressful for them as well.

This video offers some strategies to help those helping the patient/family member/ friend.

Dollars & Cents

No one likes discussing the financial ramifications of healthcare on an individual level.

The point of this video is to provide insight into some issues around major illness, how to prepare for them and tactics to make life easier for family and friends.

There is a downloadable checklist to help in this process.

A Wealth Of Data

Open heart surgery is a major undertaking and your doctors must have a comprehensive picture of what is going on inside your body.

This video shares the most common tests performed in preparation for open heart surgery.

A Week Of Your Life

You are most likely going to spend five to seven days in the hospital barring any issues.

This video gives you an overview of what to expect.  The downloadable progress sheet will serve as a rough guide about what each day can bring.

More Than Pills

Don't dismiss a variety of techniques and modalities that can alleviate pain and accelerate healing.

Keep an open mind and explore these techniques.

My Example

I walk the viewer through a full day of surgery. While the condition may differ, the overview will explain a lot about what to expect, timing and other factors.

This video shows you strategies to help family and friends quickly find comfort during the hospital phase of care.

This section is a brief discussion of some of the common medications you are likely to receive while in the hospital.  Part 1 of 2.

This section is a brief discussion of some of the common medications you are likely to receive while in the hospital.  Part 2 of 2.

A Different Place

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a world completely different that any you have experienced. 

Don't let this intimidate you.

A basic understanding of how the ICU works and basic protocols goes a long way to providing a sense of comfort despite the serious nature of this place within the hospital walls.

It's Time To GO

As you approach your discharge day, there are a few housekeeping items I don't want you to overlook. This video and the downloadable checklist are important. Please print the checklist and bring it with to the hospital.

If you are already home and cannot answer the questions please contact your doctor or have their nurse help you answer these critical questions.

Please download and print this checklist prior to your heart surgery. Bring it to the hospital and make sure you and your family can answer all the questions before you go home.

It's Time To GO

As you approach your discharge day, there are a few housekeeping items I don't want you to overlook. This video and the downloadable checklist are important. Please print the checklist and bring it with to the hospital.

If you are already home and cannot answer the questions please contact your doctor or have their nurse help you answer these critical questions.

One Step At A Time

Recovery can be daunting. No doubt about it. Open heart surgery is major surgery and recovery is not quick. 

Learn what to expect and how to accelerate recovery.

A Beginning

Congrats!  You have been discharged home and the recovery process begins now.

Learn about what to expect over the next 6-8 weeks and beyond.

Leaving The Nest

If felt a profound sense of comfort in the hospital. With call light in hand, help was only a few minutes away. 

Going home this safety net was gone but armed with some knowledge, pain can be kept in check.

Core

Open heart surgery exposes the core of human life. Proper care of the incisions is essential to avoid complications and infection.

It's not rocket science, but a refresher is helpful as you embark on the recovery process.

New But Different

The radical alteration if function will be readily apparent the moment the anesthesia wears off. This is a big procedure and restrictions are critical to allow the sternum to heal properly.

Ignore this at your peril.  Having care for patients with sternal disruption or infection, I have witnessed first hand the devastation of these consequences.

Simple Yet Important

This video shares several simple yet important tips about your medication. It could mean the difference between status quo vs. a trip to the ER in a strange city.

Life Goes On

This video shares the do's and don'ts of exercise.

When to resume sexual activity.

What issues surround a return to sexual relations and the heart surgery patient.

The Power Of Technology

Anyone with a smartphone wields the power to monitor themselves. Learn about simple tools to gauge progress and monitor for complications.

Accelerate Recovery

Besides common sense and good nutritional choices, there are a few supplements that have the power to enhance recovery from open heart surgery.

Same Old Same Old

Consistency yields progress. Developing a daily routine is essential for recovery. Learn why in this video.

A Few Dollars Makes All The Difference

Investing in simple tools can make all the difference. These simple tools are inexpensive and make life after open heart surgery (or any surgery) much more pleasant. 

Invest in yourself and purchase some of these items.

Knowing what to watch for and when to worry is essential for your wellbeing.  This is part 1 of 2 walking you through potential complications. 

As always, if you have a medical emergency - call 911 immediately.

Knowing what to watch for and when to worry is essential for your wellbeing.  This is part 2 of 2 walking you through potential complications. If you haven't watched part 1, go back and do so after finishing this video.

As always, if you have a medical emergency - call 911 immediately.

The when and why of following up with your doctor(s).

I want to wish you or your family member or friend the best in a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Mitchel Schwindt, M.D.

Mayo Clinic has a worldwide reputation as a center for excellence. I was fortunate to have an excellent team and successful surgery.

You will get through this.

The first steps are challenging and painful, no lie. But you will improve with every walk and there is a team there to help you. Be patient.

Foggy Brain

A short video sharing thoughts just 24 hours after surgery.  Remember that being on the pump has numerous effects.  Combine that with pain meds and poor sleep and the results are obvious.

Brief Tour

This video shows you what it's like to have chest tubes and pacemakers. 

Simple yet effective extras make all the difference. I share a few items that brought comfort and calm to my hospital experience.  

In retrospect, there are a few additional items I wish I had.

Suggested List:

• Fan
• Aromatherapy
• Lotion - unscented
• Breath spray / mouthwash
• Back scratcher
• Eye shade
• Qtips
• A few bags of favorite tea

Constant monitoring is a normal part of your hospitalization. In this video, see what the telemetry device looks like and how it works.

1 in 3

30-40% of patients will develop an irregular heart rhythm after open heart surgery. This is treated with medications and at times, electricity (cardioversion).

Fortunately, atrial fib usually resolves within 6 weeks of heart surgery.

Chronic atrial fib increases the risk for stroke and requires long-term drug therapy and likely some form of anticoagulant (ASA, Coumadin, Eliquis, others)

Healing The Heart - A Time Lapse of Incision Healing